CA2314617A1 - Hoist suspended wheel manipulator - Google Patents

Hoist suspended wheel manipulator Download PDF

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Publication number
CA2314617A1
CA2314617A1 CA 2314617 CA2314617A CA2314617A1 CA 2314617 A1 CA2314617 A1 CA 2314617A1 CA 2314617 CA2314617 CA 2314617 CA 2314617 A CA2314617 A CA 2314617A CA 2314617 A1 CA2314617 A1 CA 2314617A1
Authority
CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
assembly
gripping
wheel
frame
support assembly
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Abandoned
Application number
CA 2314617
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Donald J. Mckay
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
IMAC DESIGN GROUP Ltd
Original Assignee
IMAC DESIGN GROUP LTD.
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by IMAC DESIGN GROUP LTD. filed Critical IMAC DESIGN GROUP LTD.
Priority to CA 2314617 priority Critical patent/CA2314617A1/en
Publication of CA2314617A1 publication Critical patent/CA2314617A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60BVEHICLE WHEELS; CASTORS; AXLES FOR WHEELS OR CASTORS; INCREASING WHEEL ADHESION
    • B60B29/00Apparatus or tools for mounting or dismounting wheels
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B62LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS
    • B62DMOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS
    • B62D65/00Designing, manufacturing, e.g. assembling, facilitating disassembly, or structurally modifying motor vehicles or trailers, not otherwise provided for
    • B62D65/02Joining sub-units or components to, or positioning sub-units or components with respect to, body shell or other sub-units or components
    • B62D65/12Joining sub-units or components to, or positioning sub-units or components with respect to, body shell or other sub-units or components the sub-units or components being suspensions, brakes or wheel units

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Transportation (AREA)
  • Automatic Assembly (AREA)

Abstract

A wheel or tire manipulator comprises a support assembly suspended from a hoist line, and a gripping assembly depending from the support assembly for relative movement of the support assembly along a curved surface defined on the gripping assembly. The invention allows a wheel or tire to be rotated in the vertical plane to rotationally align it with a vehicle axle, for example to align mounting bolts with mounting holes or to align mounting holes on both the wheel and the axle hub.

Description

TITLE
HOIST SUSPENDED WHEEL MANIPULATOR
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to wheel and tire handling apparatus. In particular this invention relates to a suspended wheel or tire manipulator for handling large wheels or tires.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The manual removal and installation of wheels typically used on trucks and tractors is difficult due to the weight and size of the wheels.
Various devices have been designed to alleviate the problem.
U.S. Patent No. 4,04,139 to Pernsteiner et al. discloses a wheeled dolly capable of clamping a tire and removing the wheel from a vehicle.
The dolly includes a base with an upstanding post supporting a carriage 2~0 assembly. Two lever arms extend from opposite sides of the assembly and are used to grip a tire. A hydraulic cylinder located between the two lever arms includes piston rod with a head portion that engages the wheel axle.
Extending the piston rod against the wheel axle when the tire is clamped between the lever arms causes the dolly to move back and the wheel to 2.5 disengage the axle. The lever arms include clamping assemblies that can be pivoted in the about a horizontal axis for presenting the wheel horizontally for servicing. While the Pernsteiner device provides mechanical assistance in removing and servicing a wheel, it does not provide for rotation of the wheel in the vertical plane so as to align the wheel mounting bolts with the mounting holes, for example when installing rather than removing a tire.
U.S. Patent No. 4,136,903 to Roethler discloses a tire lifting apparatus comprising two arms that slide along a horizontal support sleeve.
The support sleeve is connected to a chain and attached to a hoist for lifting. The ends of the arms include downwardly depending legs ending in hooks that are used to engage the inner rim of a tire. Because the Roethler device works by hooking the inner side of the rim of a wheel, it is not useful where there is no space for the hooks to connect to, as is the case where the tire is mounted on a wheel and the whole wheel is to be manipulated.
A robotic tire manipulating apparatus is disclosed in U.S. Patent No.
5,159,745 to Kato. Robotic apparatus is typically expensive.
1.5 It is also known to provide wheel manipulators mounted on a wheeled trolley as in U.S. Patent No. 3,858,735 to Zrostlik. Such arrangements are of limited efficiency since the operator must control both the vehicle and the manipulator.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a relatively simple, small, lightweight and mobile wheel or tire manipulation apparatus capable of not only lifting but also rotating large wheels or tires.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In one aspect, the invention features apparatus for manipulating a wheel or tire, comprising a support assembly; means for lifting the support assembly, and a gripping assembly for gripping opposing sides of the wheel or tire.

The gripping assembly is supported on the support assembly for relative movement of the support assembly along an arcuate path defined on the gripping assembly.
In an aspect of the invention, the support assembly is a runner assembly mounted on a hoist line, and the gripping assembly comprises a frame that includes a curved surface and two movable arms that depend from the frame.
In another aspect of the invention, an actuator is provided in the frame for actuating movement of the arms.
In another aspect, there is also provided a gripping surface on each arm, such gripping surface being pivotable in relation to the arm.
In yet another aspect the invention features each arm being attached to a drive nut, and both drive nuts are oppositely threaded onto a transversely extending threaded shaft mounted for rotation in relation to the frame.
In a further aspect the invention features such apparatus that includes a pinion mounted in the runner or support assembly and a rack mounted on the frame or gripping assembly.
In a further aspect of the invention, the rack is curved and the curvature of 2.5 the rack corresponds to the curvature of the curved surface on the gripping assembly.
In another aspect the invention consists of apparatus for manipulating a wheel or tire, comprising a runner assembly suspended from lifting means, a frame suspended on said runner assembly by means of a curved surface on said frame lying on at least one roller mounted in said runner assembly, a curved rack mounted on said frame and a pinion mounted on said runner assembly and engaging said rack, a crank for rotating said pinion, two movable arms for gripping opposing sides of a wheel or tire and means for moving said arms in relation to one another on said frame.
Other aspects of the invention will be appreciated by reference to the detailed description of the preferred embodiment and to the claims that follow.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The preferred embodiment of the invention will be described by reference to the drawings thereof in which:
Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a wheel manipulator according to the preferred embodiment of the invention;
Fig. 2 is a side elevation of one of the jaw arms of the preferred embodiment;
Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the arm actuator;
Fig. 4 is an exploded 'view of the runner assembly;
Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the wheel manipulator; AND, Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the runner assembly mounted on the housing assembly, with one of the covers of the runner assembly removed.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE
INVENTION
Referring to Fig. 1, the wheel manipulator 10 according to the preferred embodiment comprises generally a housing assembly 12, a runner assembly 18 and two jaw arms 26.
Housing assembly 12 includes a curved rack 14 and a horizontally extending an arm actuator 16. The housing assembly 12 is supported on the runner assembly 18. Runner assembly 18 is mounted to engage and travel along curved rack 14, as described in more detail below.
Runner assembly 18 is suspended from a hoist line 20 for travel along a ceiling-mounted rail 24. Jaw arms 26 depend downwardly from the housing assembly 1;Z and are operatively connected to an arm actuator 16 mounted in the lower portion of housing assembly 12. A motor 28 is located at one end of the housing assembly 12 for activating arm actuator 16.
Two operator handles 30 are provided at the front of the housing assembly 12. Operator controls 31 are suspended from above. Controls 31 are used to move the wheel manipulator 10 vertically on hoist line 20 and to control the lateral movement of the jaw arms 26 in relation to one another by selectively actuating motor 28.
Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, jaw arms 26 are sufficiently spaced apart so that a wheel 40 may be positioned between them. Each jaw arm 26 comprises generally a web 32, a gripping pad 34, a slider 36 and three trunion tension adjusting screws 38. The inner side of the arm 26 has a curved shape to accommodate the shape of a tire. Gripping pad 34 is connected to the inner side of the lower end of the arm 32 and is mounted for rotation about the transverse horizontal axis. This allows the wheel to be pivoted between a horizontal and a vertical position. Three trunion tension adjusting screws 38 are provided to adjust the tension on the rotational movement of the pad 34. This prevents the wheel 40 from freewheeling.
Referring now to Fig. 3, the arm actuator comprises a threaded shaft 44 mounted transversely inside the housing assembly 12 and retained by sleeves and brackets 42. tine end of shaft 44 is connected to one end of the shaft associated with motor 28. The slider 36 of each jaw arm 26 is mounted on threaded shaft 44 by means of a drive nut (46, 48). The two drive nuts 46, 48 are threaded in opposite directions. It will therefore be appreciated that when threaded shaft 44 is rotated by motor 28, drive nuts 46, 48 will either move toward one another or away from one another depending on the direction of rotation of the threaded shaft 44. In doing so, the jaw arms 26 will also be displaced in the same direction as their associated drive nut thereby allowing selective clamping or unclamping of the tire or wheel. The frictional characteristics of the screw system allow the system to be self locking when under load.
Referring now to Figs. 1, 4, 5 and 6, runner assembly 18 comprises generally a front plate 80, a back plate 82, two friction blocks 84, a screw brake 86, a pinion 88, a rotation crank 90, a lifting ear 92, and four rollers 94. The housing assembly 12 is supported on the runner assembly 18 as follows. The housing assembly 12 includes a T-shaped frame 95. The upper flanges 91 of the 'T define a curved path corresponding to the curvature of the curved rack 14. The upper flanges 91 rest on the rollers 94 of the runner assembly 18. This allows the whole of the housing assembly 12 to roll along the rollers along the curved path defined by the upper flanges 91.
Pinion 88 is located in between the front 80 and the back plate 82, and engages the curved rack 14. It allows the sliding of the runner assembly 12 along rack 14 under the action of manual rotation crank 90.
Rotation crank 90 is mounted outside the front plate 80 of the runner assembly 18.
Two generally triangular friction blocks 84 are mounted onto the inner side wall of the back plate 82 to immediately overlie the upper flanges of the T shaped frame 95. Friction blocks 84 serve to guide the movement of the runner assembly 12 along the curved rack 14, and to selectively brake or clamp the housing assembly on the rollers. The end of a screw brake 86 is secured to the distal friction block 84. The screw brake is also threaded into the proximal friction block. Thus, turning screw brake 86 causes the friction blocks to pivot toward or away from one another. When pivoting toward one another, the friction blocks 84 engage the top of flanges 91 of the frame and lock the frame against further travel in relation to the runner assembly.
A lifting ear 92 is secured to the back plate 82 and is attached to hoist line 20.
Operation Controller 31 is used to control the moving of the wheel or tire manipulator 10 vertically on the hoist line 20 and to control the opening and closing of jaw arms 26 horizontally (by operating arm actuator 16). The user can adjust the distance between jaw arms 26 with respect to the size of the wheel by causing jaw arms 26 to slide closer together until the pads 34 are in contact with the tire. Once the wheel is securely clamped between the jaw pads 34, the wheel is lifted using the hoist. The wheel or tire manipulator 10 and the wheel 40 are then moved along the ceiling track to the front of the vehicle an which the wheel is to be installed. The user then adjusts the height of the manipulator with respect to the wheel axle and if necessary may use the operator handles 30 to push the wheel into contact with the axle. The operator can then assess the relative alignment of the axle flange studs and the mounting holes on the wheel.
In the event that the studs do not align with the mounting holes, the rotation crank 90 may be used to guide the runner assembly 18 along the curved rack 14. Optionally a motor drive may be used rather than a manual crank. As the raci; 14 is curved and because the runner assembly is suspended from a vE:rtical hoist line, moving the runner assembly along the rack will cause the housing assembly to rotate in relation to the runner assembly. Thus the housing assembly and the associated jaw arms and wheel that depend from the assembly will be rotated, thereby enabling alignment of the mounting bolts with the mounting holes to complete the installation process.
It will therefore be appreciated that the invention allows not only lifting and transport of the wheel, but it also allows rotation in the vertical plane and consequently rotational alignment to be achieved between the wheel and the axle.
The invention further allows not only lifting and rotation in the vertical plane, but also rotation of the wheel about a transverse horizontal axis.
It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that although the preferred embodiment has been described herein, variations and modifications thereto may be practised without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims (15)

1. Apparatus for manipulating a wheel or tire, comprising:
a support assembly;
means for lifting said support assembly;
a gripping assembly for gripping opposing sides of said wheel or tire, said gripping assembly being supported on said support assembly for relative movement of said support assembly along an arcuate path defined on said gripping assembly.
2. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said arcuate path is defined by a curved surface on said gripping assembly.
3. Apparatus as in claim 2 further comprising means for actuating said relative movement of said support assembly along said arcuate path defined on said gripping assembly.
4. Apparatus as in claim 3 wherein said gripping assembly comprises two arms that are movable in relation to a frame of said gripping assembly and said curved surface is provided on said frame.
5. Apparatus as in claim 4 further comprising an actuator in said frame for actuating movement of said arms.
6. Apparatus as in claim 3 wherein said means for lifting said support assembly comprise a hoist line.
7. Apparatus as in claim 4 further comprising a gripping surface on each of said arms, said gripping surface being pivotable in relation to said arms.
8. Apparatus as in claim 5 wherein said actuator comprises a motor.
9. Apparatus as in claim 5 wherein each of said movable arms is attached to a drive nut, and said drive nuts are oppositely threaded onto a transversely extending threaded shaft mounted for rotation in relation to said frame.
10. Apparatus as in claim 3 wherein said means for actuating relative movement are a pinion mounted in said support assembly and a rack mounted on said gripping assembly.
11. Apparatus as in claim 10 wherein said rack is curved and the curvature of said rack corresponds to the curvature of said curved surface.
12. Apparatus as in claim 11 wherein said pinion is rotated by means of a crank mounted on said support assembly.
13. Apparatus as in claim 12 further comprising a friction brake mounted in said support assembly for selective engagement with said curved surface.
14. Apparatus as in claim 10 wherein said means for lifting said support assembly comprise a hoist line.
15. Apparatus for manipulating a wheel or tire, comprising:
a runner assembly suspended from lifting means;
a frame suspended on said runner assembly by means of a curved surface on said frame lying on at least one roller mounted in said runner assembly;
a curved rack mounted on said frame and a pinion mounted on said runner assembly and engaging said rack;
a crank or motor drive for rotating said pinion;
two movable arms for gripping opposing sides of a wheel or tire; and, means for moving said arms in relation to one another on said frame.
CA 2314617 2000-07-27 2000-07-27 Hoist suspended wheel manipulator Abandoned CA2314617A1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA 2314617 CA2314617A1 (en) 2000-07-27 2000-07-27 Hoist suspended wheel manipulator

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA 2314617 CA2314617A1 (en) 2000-07-27 2000-07-27 Hoist suspended wheel manipulator

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA2314617A1 true CA2314617A1 (en) 2002-01-27

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ID=4166787

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA 2314617 Abandoned CA2314617A1 (en) 2000-07-27 2000-07-27 Hoist suspended wheel manipulator

Country Status (1)

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CA (1) CA2314617A1 (en)

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1841606A2 (en) * 2005-01-18 2007-10-10 Android Industries LLC A system for transporting and manipulating tires and wheels
WO2012048579A1 (en) * 2010-10-12 2012-04-19 Wang Jinhu Independent hoisting wheel mechanism for carrier
US8365794B2 (en) 2005-01-18 2013-02-05 Android Industries Llc Inflation work station
US8701736B2 (en) 2005-01-18 2014-04-22 Android Industries Llc Inflation work station
CN107117227A (en) * 2016-11-29 2017-09-01 重庆骏骑车业制造有限公司 Electric motorcycle assembles transmission equipment
CN113212063A (en) * 2021-04-09 2021-08-06 姜丽 Automobile parts maintenance tire installation auxiliary stand

Cited By (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1841606A2 (en) * 2005-01-18 2007-10-10 Android Industries LLC A system for transporting and manipulating tires and wheels
EP1841606A4 (en) * 2005-01-18 2009-01-07 Android Ind Llc A system for transporting and manipulating tires and wheels
US7845655B2 (en) 2005-01-18 2010-12-07 Android Industries Llc System for transporting and manipulating tires and wheels
US8176960B2 (en) 2005-01-18 2012-05-15 Android Industries Llc System for transporting and manipulating tires and wheels
US8365794B2 (en) 2005-01-18 2013-02-05 Android Industries Llc Inflation work station
US8701736B2 (en) 2005-01-18 2014-04-22 Android Industries Llc Inflation work station
US9440503B2 (en) 2005-01-18 2016-09-13 Android Industries Llc Inflation work station
US10065463B2 (en) 2005-01-18 2018-09-04 Android Industries Llc Inflation work station
WO2012048579A1 (en) * 2010-10-12 2012-04-19 Wang Jinhu Independent hoisting wheel mechanism for carrier
CN107117227A (en) * 2016-11-29 2017-09-01 重庆骏骑车业制造有限公司 Electric motorcycle assembles transmission equipment
CN113212063A (en) * 2021-04-09 2021-08-06 姜丽 Automobile parts maintenance tire installation auxiliary stand

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